Actually, that's not completely true. While in hindsight Joe looks smart for not re-signing Ben, Ben played his ass off here, underpaid, and earned that big payday. He was playing for the league average salary while racking up 4 DPOY and being the team's only All-Star. You could say, he was our only superstar prior to Sheed coming to town, and yet he was paid like a 6th man.

And, Joe did move salaries around, claiming to want to re-sign Ben. He never did. He moved Darko and Arroyo for Cato's expiring deal, for Ben Money. He traded Corliss for Derrick Coleman, for Ben Money.

If Ben had said on July 1st 2006, "Joe, Chicago is offering me a lot of money, $15 million per year, and they are front loading it to make life tough for you, but I want to be a Piston for life, so make me your best offer", Joe would have been completely screwed.

So I don't know why Pistons fans harbour any animosity towards a guy who did everything we expect of a Detroiter, and then when his opportunity came, he took it, and by taking it, probably saved the franchise from crashing out of the playoffs by trading Billups much earlier.

There is so much more context to this story that I think the majority of fans don't know or have forgotten about. Ben intentionally did not ask for an extension early, because he wanted to fulfill the deal Joe gave him. Joe knew this, and had said that if Ben wanted to be extended earlier, he would have done it. But that's not who Ben is, and that is not how Ben is.

I think it is funny now that the Pistons are kissing Ben's butt because he would really help them with ticket sales this offseason, and the league is going to pick up most of the tab if he signs. And yet fans continue to question Ben's character when he gave more to this city pound for pound than maybe any other athlete in the last decade not named Steve Yzerman.

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I loved Ben as a player and as a person. his numbers were heading south though, and although he was due a big payday, it didn't have to be the Pistons who obliged him. I do not regret him getting his big payday.

If I may guess as to his issues, I believe he simply didn't like Flip. He struggled trying to be a team player for a coach whose philosophy didn't match his own. As a result, he leaves behind another Wallace who took it out on Flip and as a result of Flip's demeanor, Flip was shown the door.

I still think that Ben does not come back, as he and Joe will not see eye to eye. Too much history there.

He begins packing at the team hotel, when there’s a knock on the door. It’s Hamilton and Prince, the trio together one last time. They embrace, cry, laugh and reminisce. They call Ben Wallace, a Cavalier now, and put him on speaker phone. Wallace tells them,"I told you how they are."Hamilton is the most affected of all. He has just signed an extension, and he tells Chauncey he wants to be traded now, that if he’d known they were going to trade Chauncey, he never would’ve re-upped in Detroit.

When ben was coached by LB,LB made it important to involve Ben in the offense. The philosophy being that even if he is the worst offensive player on the floor, do you also punish the worst 'defensive' player on the floor(say by taking him out of the game in the last 2 minutes). Flip did just that by removing ben from any offensive sets and replacing him at the end of games for offense. The logic being- Ben was the BEST at what he did best- 'DEFENSE'...and the new coach comes in and says "So?' ...Not cool!

When ben was coached by LB,LB made it important to involve Ben in the offense. The philosophy being that even if he is the worst offensive player on the floor, do you also punish the worst 'defensive' player on the floor(say by taking him out of the game in the last 2 minutes). Flip did just that by removing ben from any offensive sets and replacing him at the end of games for offense. The logic being- Ben was the BEST at what he did best- 'DEFENSE'...and the new coach comes in and says "So?' ...Not cool!

When ben was coached by LB,LB made it important to involve Ben in the offense. The philosophy being that even if he is the worst offensive player on the floor, do you also punish the worst 'defensive' player on the floor(say by taking him out of the game in the last 2 minutes). Flip did just that by removing ben from any offensive sets and replacing him at the end of games for offense. The logic being- Ben was the BEST at what he did best- 'DEFENSE'...and the new coach comes in and says "So?' ...Not cool!

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But that is just talking about player's ego. The player is getting paid to do what coach directs him to do. Some do it better, some worse. Someone is more talented, and someone is less. However, that's the way it is in the NBA - you have major ego issues and coaches go before players in most cases.

But that is just talking about player's ego. The player is getting paid to do what coach directs him to do. Some do it better, some worse. Someone is more talented, and someone is less. However, that's the way it is in the NBA - you have major ego issues and coaches go before players in most cases.

And there actually are players whose ego can't be "stroked" - Sheeds, Iversons, etc. They do what they want to do regardless. At some point there is a look as if someone finds those correct buttons to push, that it usually doesn't last long at all and they are going right back to do what they feel like doing.

But that is just talking about player's ego. The player is getting paid to do what coach directs him to do. Some do it better, some worse. Someone is more talented, and someone is less. However, that's the way it is in the NBA - you have major ego issues and coaches go before players in most cases.

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I don't think this is true. It is next to impossible to play basketball without touching the ball and you can't instruct someone to deal with it and just go get it himself. There is a reason that teams start out games by going to Luc Longley.

In theory, playing 4 on 5 and having Ben crash the glass is a perfect plan. Everyone is doing what they do best. In reality they were playing 4 on 5 though.

Ben takes too much heat for his "touch the ball" comments. Ben's comments were not of a selfish nature by any means, under LB we ran Share The Ball, Make the Extra Pass offense which yielded Ben some "touches", under Flip when Ben wasn't touching the ball it was an indicator that we weren't moving and sharing the ball or making the extra pass, which became our ultimate downfall offensively.

Ben takes too much heat for his "touch the ball" comments. Ben's comments were not of a selfish nature by any means, under LB we ran Share The Ball, Make the Extra Pass offense which yielded Ben some "touches", under Flip when Ben wasn't touching the ball it was an indicator that we weren't moving and sharing the ball or making the extra pass, which became our ultimate downfall offensively.

When ben was coached by LB,LB made it important to involve Ben in the offense. The philosophy being that even if he is the worst offensive player on the floor, do you also punish the worst 'defensive' player on the floor(say by taking him out of the game in the last 2 minutes). Flip did just that by removing ben from any offensive sets and replacing him at the end of games for offense. The logic being- Ben was the BEST at what he did best- 'DEFENSE'...and the new coach comes in and says "So?' ...Not cool!

It doesnt matter...ego, hurt feelings...whatever. It is the coaches job to recognize how to get the most out of each player. LB did it by showcasing Ben the first couple of plays, etc. Every player is different.

It doesnt matter...ego, hurt feelings...whatever. It is the coaches job to recognize how to get the most out of each player. LB did it by showcasing Ben the first couple of plays, etc. Every player is different.

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I am sure some of the best NBA coaches Sloan, Popovich, and Jackson all cater to the players.

Can't we make a trade for a quality younger big man instead of getting an older player?Not putting anything against Big Ben but hes just getting old...but if Ben can come for the veterans miniumum he could be a good mentor to the younger posts(Max,Kwame,Wilcox,Villanueva).

I am sure some of the best NBA coaches Sloan, Popovich, and Jackson all cater to the players.

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There is a qualitative difference. The ownership and GM's of these coaches acknowledge the perception and valued insights these coaches bring on an organizational level. Their longevity and track-records give them the edge that in a world of immediate gratification, they are not rent-a-coach momentary substitutions. Most coaches (in relationship to owners) are an inferior subject class.

There is a qualitative difference. The ownership and GM's of these coaches acknowledge the perception and valued insights these coaches bring on an organizational level. Their longevity and track-records give them the edge that in a world of immediate gratification, they are not rent-a-coach momentary substitutions. Most coaches (in relationship to owners) are an inferior subject class.

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It is interesting, but basketball may be the only sport where the players run the show.